Matching types of social media sites (SNS) to motives and profile of youth in Malaysia

Wok, Saodah and Misman, Norealyana (2015) Matching types of social media sites (SNS) to motives and profile of youth in Malaysia. Pertanika Journal of Social Science & Humanities, 23 (S). pp. 169-186. ISSN 0128-7702

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Abstract

Social network sites (SNS) have been used to bring people close to each other across the globe, especially the youth. It is important to find out the matching of types of SNS to the motives for using them and toward fitting the profile of youth in Malaysia for the SNS concerned. Specifically, this study tries (1) to find out the types of SNS subscribed by youth, (2) to gauge the frequency of using the SNS per week, (3) to rank the motives for using the SNS, and (4) to compare the differences between youth profile for using the SNS. A survey was conducted to among youth, aged 17-40 years old, nationwide, using a self-developed questionnaire. A total of 703 respondents were gathered for the study. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) WIN 20. The respondents of the study were represented by a slightly more male than female, mainly Malays, mostly single, with Islam as their religion, adolescents, doing their first degree, and were students. Based on the youth profile, results revealed that there were differences between various youth demographic characteristics and the types of SNS that they subscribed to. The top three SNS that youth subscribed to were Facebook, Yahoo and Skype. Almost one-third of them used them daily. Most of the SNS were used for social, followed by education, and communication motives. Specifically, Twitter was also used for social, communication and entertainment motives while blog was used for religious, education, business, and politics motives. The study is applying both the social networks theory and information seeking theory so that youth would be motivated to equip themselves with the vast knowledge available and accessible in the SNSs for their own benefits, not merely for social networking.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Additional Information:	2899/46742
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Social network sites (SNS), youth in Malaysia, SNS motives, social networks theory, and information seeking theory
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) > H61.8 Communication of information
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of Communication
Depositing User:	Prof. Dr. Saodah Wok
Date Deposited:	28 Dec 2015 14:39
Last Modified:	16 Mar 2016 12:57
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/46742

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